Invasive "Jumping Worm" May Be On The Move In N.H.

The University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension is hosting a public seminar later this month about a fast, hungry species called the "jumping worm" that was recently introduced to North America from eastern Asia.

Also known as snake worms or crazy worms, they can harm native plants and animals by consuming the upper organic layer of the soil.

That allows invasive species to take the place of native plants, which then affects other species such as ground nesting birds. University of Vermont professor Josef Gorres, who has researched the worm, will deliver the seminar July 26 in Portsmouth. Registration is $10.

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The University of New Hampshire is seeking $10 million in state funding to begin building new research laboratories to better prepare students for careers in regenerative medicine, bioengineering and other competitive growth industries.

Officials made their pitch Thursday as Republican Gov. Chris Sununu opened a hearing on the capital budget for fiscal years 2020 and 2021. Sununu said he would recommend spending no more than $120 million.

There are at least 50 species of non-native insects established in the state, including the Emerald Ash Borer, which has devastated the local ash tree population. Poised to join this list is another wood-boring bug, which could have a similar impact on more of New Hampshire’s trees: the Southern Pine Beetle.

“In New Hampshire, we live in a global hotspot of non-native forest insects,” said Matthew Ayres, Professor of Biological Sciences at Dartmouth.

In today's episode, we're talking about species that thrive... and some that don't. First, an American lobster discovered in European waters raises some important questions: is it invasive or just non-native? Then the story of two birds: one universally reviled and the other an avian celebrity.

There are different kinds of lobster… you know this, right? You’ve seen Blue Planet.

The state is reminding boaters to be aware of a new law that went into effect this year that prohibits the transport of aquatic plants on their trailers and other measures aimed at combating the spread of invasive species.

The law, which went into effect on Jan. 1, is part of an effort to combat the spread of aquatic plants and animals that are not native to New Hampshire's lakes, ponds and rivers. Violators could face fines up to $200.

Researchers at the University of New Hampshire are launching a project to evaluate the threat of invasive plant species to the state’s forests.

Non-native species like burning bush, glossy buckthorn, and multiflora rose account for about a third of all plants in the state. Scientists at UNH are now planning a formal assessment of those invasive species and how they affect the state’s forests.

The project will also evaluate what factors make forests more or less susceptible to invasive species.